Calculator



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. 11. 0131s. CALCULATOR.

l110.1121108. Patented 1eb.11,1890.

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T Wl NESSES N, mens mm. uw, n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

fwlD. oTIs.

CALCULATOR.

110.421.108. Patented Feb. 11,1890.

KM) Y By A TTORNE Y 8.

vUNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE..

CALCU LATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,108, dated February11, 1890.

Application tiled May 20, 1889. Serial No. 311,384. (No model.)

.To all wil/0772, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD D. OTIS, of Blue Springs, in the county ofGage and State' of Nebraska, have invented a new and `ImprovedCalculator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved calculatorfor grain and other commodities which is simple and durable inconstruction, easily operated, and serves to-readily, quickly, andaccurately reduce any load of grain or seeds of from one hundred poundsto four thousand pounds to bushels and fractions thereof. It is furtherintended for computing the price of hay, grain, coal, or any otherarticle bought or sold by the hundred pounds or ton, and at the sametime this device gives the number of bushels in a ton of different kindsof grain. It indicates accurately the amount of money to be paid orreceived for a load of grain or other commodity, and it also indicatesthe amount of money to be paid per bushel for transporting it to anypoint when the rate is known.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations ofthe same, as will;u

'be fully described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement, and Fig. 2 is atransverse section of the same on the line cc of Fig. l.

The improved calculator is provided with a closed case A, having aninclined top B, on the lower end of which is secured a longitudinallyextending` rod C, on which is mounted to slide an indicator D, providedwith a knob E, for conveniently moving the said indicator forward andbackward overthe inclined top of the casing A. On the outside of the topB, under the indicator D, is arranged a chart F, provided withlongitudinally-extending columns F', F2, F3, F4, F5, FG, and F7,containing numerals indicating prices of the various commodities. Forinstance, the column F contains numerals indicating' the price per ton,the column F2 contains numerals indicating the price per hundred pounds,and the remaining columns F3, F4, F5, FG, and FT contain numeralsindicating the price per bushel. On the top of the indicator D arearranged characters o r longitudinallypointing fingers D, D2, D3, D, D5,D6, and D7, pointing to the columns F', F2, F3, F4, F5, F, and F7,respectively. The iinger D indicates the price per ton, the finger D2the price per hundred pounds, and the fingers D3,

D4, D5, D, andD7 indicate the price per bushel of the various grains andother commodities.

Near the upper end of the indicator D is formed an opening D8,registering with a slot G, formed in the top B, and arranged parallel tothe chart F. Below the slot G is held a band H, passing over the idlerI, held inside of the casing A, and mounted to turn in the ends of thesame. The band H passes from the idler I to the rollers K and L,respectively, mounted to turn in the ends of the casing A, and providedat one end with. knobs N and O, respectively, serving to convenientlyturn said rollers L and K to move the band H over the idler I in anupward or downward direc` tion, according to the direction in which theknobs are turned. The rollers L and K are preferably provided with aspring tension device of any approved construction, (see the left end ofFig. 1,) in order to hold the rollers in place.

On the band H are formed longitudinal columns P, each adapted to appearone at a time at the slot G. Each of the columns P is provided at itsleft end with a numeral P', indicating` the net number of pounds theprice of which is to be calculated. Next to the numeral P is a numeralP2, P3, P4, P5, or P, indicating the exact number of bushels of acertain commodity in the number of pounds indicated by the numeral P.Next/to the last numeral Pi is arranged a series of numerals PT,indicating the price in relation to the net number of pounds indicatedby the numeral P of a certain commodity, as hereinafter more fullydescribed.

On the top B are arranged transverselyextending columns Q, Q2, Q3, Q4,Q5, and Q6,

registering with the numerals P P2, P3, P4,

IOO

P5, and Il of each column I on the band Il, The column Q contains inwriting the net number of pounds, referring to the numeral indicated atP in the column I. The column Q2 contains in writing the words Rye,Shelled Coi-11,7 and Flaxseeth Fifty-six Pounds to the Bushel. Similarwriting relating to other commodities than the one con tained in thecolumn Q is contained in the other columns Q3, Q4, Q, and Q, the wordBushels standing above the columns Q2, Q3, Q4, 5, and QG.

The operation is as follows: When the operator desires to find, forinstance, how many bushels of shelled corn (see column Q2) are infifteen hundred pounds, he turns the knobs O andN until the column P,having 1,500 written at the left end, appears in the slot G. Theoperator, by following` down the column Q2, containing shelled corn,will find ZGAA that is, that number of bushels of shelled corn iscontained in fifteen hundred pounds. If the operator now wants to findthe price of fifteen hundred pounds, say, of: oats, a bushel of whichcosts eleven and 'four-tenths cents, he moves the indicator D forward orbackward until the finger D5 points to 11.4, as shown in Fig. l. In theopening D8 is now found 5&0, indicating that fifteen hundred pounds ofoats at eleven and four-tenths cents per bushel cost five dollars andforty cents. IVhen the operator desires to know the price by the hundredpounds, say, of oats at eleven and four-tenths cents per bushel, theindicator D is left in the position shown in Fig. I, the finger D2pointing to 30 in the column F2, iinlicating` that one hundred pounds ofoats will cost thirty-six cents, a bushel costing eleven and four-tenthscents. In the same manner the price per ton is given, the finger Dpointingto $7.20 in the column F.

In order to ascertain how much it costs to transport abushcl of grain toa certain point-- for example, a bushel of shelled corn to Chicago-therate being thirty-six per hundred, the operator moves the indicator Duntil the finger D2 indicates on 3G, as shownin Fig. l. The pointer DTon the line of shelled corn on the said indicator now points to 20.1,which is the amount per bushel at the rate given. Thus it will be seenthat by shifting the band II and moving the indicator D the operator isenabled to find the number ot bushels and fraction of a bushel in a loadof grain or seeds of from one hundred to four thousand pounds; isenabled to compute the price of the grain, hay, coal, or anything boughtor sold by the hundred pounds or ton; is further enabled to give thenumber of bushels per ton of the different kinds of grain, and can tellthe accurate amount of money neces" saryfor a load of a certaincommodity, and can also tell the cost per bushel of any commoditytransported to any point when the rate is known.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a calculator, the combination, with a casing provided in its topwit-h a slot, of a band mounted in the said casing and provided withsets of columns containing numerals and adapted to appear in the saidslot, and an indicator held to slide on the top of the said casing andserving to indicate the numerals appearing in said slot, substantiallyas shown and described.

2. In a calculator, the combination, with aeasing provided in its topwith a slot and having a fixed chart, of a band mounted in the saidcasing and provided with sets of columns containing numerals indicatingprices and quantities and appearing in the said slot, an indicator heldto slide on the top of the said casing, and provided with charactersindicating on the said chart, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a calculator, the combination, with a casing provided in its topwith a slot and having a fixed chart, of a band mounted in the saidcasing and provided with sets of columns containing numerals indicatingprices and quantities and appearing in the said slot, an indicator heldto slide on the top of the said casin g and provided with charactersindicating on the said chart, the said indicator being also providedwith an opening registering with the said slot, and means for moving thesaid band to register different columns with the said slot,substantially as shown and described.

4.-. In a calculator, the combination, with a casing provided in its topwith a slot, of a chart containing numerals and fixed on the top of thecasing, a band mounted in the said casing and provided with sets ofcolumns containing numerals indicating prices and quantities andappearing in the said slot, an indicator held to slide on the top of thesaid casing over the said slot and chart and provided with fingersindicating on the columns on the said chart, said indicator beingprovided with an opening registering at all times with the said slot,substantially as shown and described.

5. In a calculator, the combination, with a casing provided in its topwith a slot, of a chart containing numerals fixed on the top of thecasing, a band mounted in the said casing and provided with sets ofcolumns containing numerals indicating prices and quantities andappearing in the said slot, an indicator held to slide on the top of thesaid casing over the said slot and chart and provided with fingersindicating on the columns on the said chart, the said indicator beingprovided with an opening registering at all times with the said slot,rollers held to turn in the said casing and carrying the said band, andknobs for turning the said rollers, substantially as shown anddescribed.

0. In a calculator, the combination, with a IOO IIO

casing provided with a slotted top and having fixed columns Q Q2 Q3,dao., of a chart secured on the said top and provided with columns, anindicator held to slide over the said slot `end chart and provided withpointing-lingers indicating on the said chart, and a band held to movein the said casing and provided wit-h sets of nu merel-c0111 mns adaptedto appear under the said slot in the top of the casing, Substantially asshown and de- 1o scribed.

VILLARD D. OTIS.

XVitnesses:

C. S. OTIS, E. H. BURINGTON.

